Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-11
ON TO OKLAHOMA.
From the Lawrence Journal.

kins, living nearer the Indian Territory
than other members of congress, we are
assured will do something this winter to-
wards settling this vexed question of the
settlement of the unoccupied and unused
lands of the Indian Territory The first
thing to be done is to kill the Holman BILL
1t would colonize the Cheyennes and ARA
pahoes on the Oklahoma lands il they are
removed from their present reservation
The true policy is to remove all the Indians
!, west Of Oklahoma to the country EAST Of
those lands, and open up to white settle
ment all the country west of the eastern
line of the Oklahoma lands
We have frequently spoken Of the policy
of isolation for the Indians, and this paper
has frequently shown that the Chinese
system as applied to the Indian is not bene-
fetal to The Indian race, and is antago
nistic to all the essential principles of a
progressive and expanding civilization. 1t
is now our purpose to show that the policy
of colonization of the wild tribes in the In
dian Territory is not sustained by sound
policies Of governmental regulations of
these tribes, and was not willingly adopted
by the Indians resident in the Territory
The necessity of this showing becomes
more apparent from the monstrous claim
formulated by the friends and pretended
friends of the Indians who have sold and
ceded large tracts to the govern
ment, the government in the deed Of
purchase having stated that the lands were
bought to cOlonize ''other Indians" thereon,
That this pretense of reserved and inchoate
right to the lands, ostensibly to blk the
government out of another purchase at
fabulously increased prices is a mere pre-
| nd cd I,.-c har
ing white land mOnopolists is very appar-
ent, and made doubly sure by the fact that
| for fifteen years the Indians have not pre-
tended to possess any right OF claim to the
! lands in question, and not until they be-
came valuable for grazing purposes, and
consequently were coveted by the cattle
kings, did any claim appear or was any
protest made from the Indians against
their settlement by the first Oklahoma col
onists under Captain Payne.
To thoroughly understand the question
of Indian colonization and the purpose Of
of he semicivilized tribes in the sale Of
their lands. it is necessary to understand
the spirit of the parties making the treat
les. 1t should be known that on the part
Of the government the authority and power
of the guardian and ward were never more
sternly asserted. The government com
missioncrs expressly stated to the Indians
their wards) that they had forfeited all
their rights. and whatsoever the govern
ment should ask of them would be re
quired, and for the first time in an Indian |
treaty this term was percmpterily used. The |
Indians or their part, by no paper request
concession or counsel, asked that |
the policy Of Indian colonization be adopt |
ed. On the other hand, in the councils |
held at Fort Smith in August and Septem
Der, 1865, when the policy was first |
brought forward and enforced, the Indians
protested vigorously against this third arti
Gle in the Seminole and Creek treaties and |
the similar article in the Cherokee treaty
They said they were weak and decimated |
by the war; that they were making some
progress and attempts at civilizations; that
wild Indians brought So near would result
in constant strife, that wars would ensue
and they would be continually impoverish-
ed in their attempts to maintain their exist
ence and to repress these tribal tumults
The government commissioners responded |
that the wild tribes would be greatly bene-
fitted by coming in contact with the civil
cation they had already secured for them
selves, and assured them that the govern
ment would protect them from any armed |
invaSiOns their wild brothers might inaug-
urate. With these assurances the protests
Of the semi civilized tribes against Indian
colonization were brushed away and the
Requirements" of the treaties We're re-
tanned, and the chiefs aud head men were
compelled to sign the treaties. The wild |
tribes TO which this visionary and chimeri-
cal scheme was applied had no choice in
the matter.
1t WAS entirely a compulsory affair on
the part of the government. They
were removed vi ct arms. The semi civil
lied tribes were required" to sell, and the
wild tribes were moved by force What
has been the effect of this policy? The
long trail OF blood that the Cheyennes left
in the burning cabins of scalped settlers in
western Kansas homes in 1867 tell the aw-
full story OF Indian cruelty in removing In
dams compulsory from their northern
homes, and the fearful penalty innocent
Kansas settlers had to bay. The cruelties
to the Poncas, their terrible sufferings,
their rapid decigations dwindling in three
years from | 800 to less than $50, from one i
Of the most pitiable and tragical tales
Of sorrow and shame ever experienced
by al Indian tribe Thus it is
show that colonization for the wild tribes
has resulted only in Determination, death ,
disease and decentralization. The congress, !
seeing the evil effects Of the new govern ,
ment policy; reinforced by vigorous pro ,
tests from Kansas, Missouri and other ,,
border states, revoked this policy and ex- :
pressly declared by solemn enactment that :
40 moie Indians shall be colonized in the
Indian Territory Then it was the at
empt to settle upon the vacant lands, title D.,
% which the Indians had parted with ana I
vested in the government was made. No {
protest was made from the Indians, but the |
military was invoked, and at the point of :
he bayonet eX soldiers Of the Union army J
were driven from these government .
ands, accused of no crime bat a desire to !
seek homes upon these unoccupicd lands =
Some Of the colouiSts have been arrested ;
eleven times. Captain Couch, the present !
cader, has been arrested five times No r
me has ever been punished, excepting the I,
severity, at times cruel and unnecessary. (
lsed by the military in the transporting of =,
he prisoners out Of the territory. PAYNE :
ried to get trial time and again 1t was :
generally denied him, but previous to his q
ieath Judge Foster. United States Judge {
or the district of Kansas, decided that no +
'riminal act was committed by going upon :
he lands :
This miserable tumble of an Indian !,
policy, so closely linked and interviewer as :
{ is with the monopoly system and fayorit-
SIN to syndiCates and rings, is left Is 4
egacy for congress 70 overthrow When 4
We consider the power Of precedent, and \
hat customs and uSages gradually grow !,
nto laws and have all the force and power +
# solemn statute, we can readily appre !,